A view of the neighbourhood… and shy volunteers

Back to UPAVIM’s roof. This is the heaven (and I really mean it) we can go back to during lunch breaks and at the end of the day, when the sun sets. It hosts the volunteer group, with a kitchen, shared rooms and – I’ve been told – the best toilet in Guatemala. I’m starting to believe it.

It seats on the last floor of UPAVIM’s building. The areas underneath host all of the cooperative’s activities – sewing and arts & crafts production, bakery, soya production (when it was working!), kindergarten and school.

There is a quite international crowd hanging around here. We’re eleven at the moment. Things are quite busy, and the reason why I’m staying with Conchita’s family is lack of space in the roof; things should get calmer in a few weeks’ time, when some people leave.

Many of the volunteers are from the US (big country and close by, which helps explain it), others from France, Belgium, Netherlands (another well represented group) and… Portugal. I’m a crew of one, yet proud.

People came here through different routes. There are “veterans” who are here for a third time, with one of them half way through her 2-year project at UPAVIM. She teaches the 6th grade at UPAVIM’s school and transpires commitment to educating the kids. There is a young couple (still on their teens!) who’s staying only for a couple of months. There are people who came here after travelling in Central America for a while; others who intend to do so after leaving UPAVIM, like me.

You’ve Es., truly committed to her idea of getting kids out of gangs through break-dance. You’ve Ma., who’s doing here more of the social work she used to do with kids in Holland. You also have Mi., another social worker from the US who teaches yoga once in a while, during some of the breaks from our activities.

Different stories, all of them curious in one way or the other.

The group is apparently shy on camera, judging upon this video. El., caught on camera against her will, is working with the women in the arts & crafts production. She’s ever so kind to help me practice my French. Unfortunately, there is no hope for it.

A bientôt, g.